Museum of the Battle of Wagram 1809, Lower Austria, Austria

5achrvala72 5:00 PM Jun 12, 2018

Excellent!
As long as you know where you’re going and staying in Vienna, I could not recommend this museum more. It was great and the historical costume exhibits and actual weapons used in the battle were awesome. I’d recommend being able to speak German as we didn’t and our guide was German but it didn’t hinder the experience at all. I’d also recommend emailing them and asking beforehand if you can visit as it is a museum with limited hours. Aspern Essling wouldn’t let us visit. Overall it was a great time and I’d definitely visit again!

5BelisariusUK 5:00 PM Apr 3, 2015

BRILLIANT LITTLE MUSEUM WHERE IT ALL HAPPENED
This museum is a must if you are interested in military history and / or the Napoleonic period. It is in the town of Deutsch Wagram and can be reached by Vienna's excellent public transport system. The website (www.wagram1809.at) provides you with some public transport options - my preferred route would be via U bahn U 2 (red line) to Leopoldau and then the train line S 2 to Deutsch Wagram, followed by the 15 minute walk through town - or there's always taxis! Allow 1 - 1 1/2 hours total travelling time, door-door if you are staying in the centre of Vienna. The museum has an email address ([email protected]) for more information and unlike some places, they will reply to you - they certainly replied to me. It is open, according to the website, on Sundays from April to November 10 - 4. Amongst other things, the museum houses a big collection of artefacts found on the battlefield (of which many are intact) and although I only had about an hour there, it was a fascinating hour and I could have spent longer. The building was Archduke Carl's HQ during the battle. I understand the museum is actually run by volunteers - for me that speaks of considerable dedication at a time when, sadly, history before the two world wars is not a popular topic in schools or anywhere else. GENERAL NOTES ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF WAGRAM This museum is only part of what remains of the battlefields of Aspern / Essling and Wagram. If you are thinking of visiting, the following might be of use. 1 The Aspern - Essling line is now completely swallowed up by urbanisation. However, the famous Essling granary is still intact (and it really is huge!) and there is a museum at Aspern, as well as the famous Lion statue. Unfortunately, during my visit, the statue was covered by a garden shed to protect it from the elements. My wife later asked me why I had taken picture of a shed - fair question! It looked like an excellent shed, though. 2 In addition, there is a substantial woodland walk through what was part of Lobau island. The course of the Danube has been much altered since 1809. 3 Moving out into the open on to the (so-flat-it-has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed) Marchfeld, the villages are still identifiable and some are pretty much as small as they were for example, Baumersdorf, (now called Parbasdorf). I was also told that the raised mound where Napoleon spent much of his time directing the battle (near Raasdorf) is still visible. 4 The line Deutsch Wagram - Baumersdorf - Markgrafneusiedl along the Russbach stream is easily recognised (and is still in open farmland) although I am told that the stream is slightly bigger than it was in 1809. The Wagram "ridge" behind the Russbach is just a 10 metre (approximately) rise in the land, albeit a consistent rise that spans the length of the Russbach between the above villages, as far as I could see. For me, this particular part of the battlefield was the most evocative of all and least disturbed. It was very easy to imagine the solid line of white uniforms spread as far as the eye could see along this ridge. It is also amazing what a small rise in the land does for your line of sight - rather like being at sea. 5 The church tower at Markgrafneusiedl is still there but it is now a private residence access cannot be granted, apparently. You can walk up to it - there are a couple of markers mentioning the vicious fighting that took place in the village. 6 Although I did not take advantage of it this time, there is the Hotel Asperner Loewe in Aspern (www.asperner-loewe.at) which contains links that are useful if you are visiting the battlefields. If you are going, plan in advance, email the museums and do it by hire car or taxi. Seeing everything would take a longish day - but a great one.